Korean War Veterans to be Honored for 60th Anniversary at Kennedy Park

By Ben Feldheim

An effort will be made Friday to remember a war described several times in history as the “The Forgotten War.”

Smith Senior Living will be holding a Korean War Memorial Ceremony Friday to mark the 60th anniversary of its conclusion.

Veterans from around the area are invited, and several residents in Smith Village in Beverly and Smith Crossing in Orland Park who served will attend, according to a release from Smith Senior Living.

The ceremony will be at Kennedy Park in Morgan Park, where one of the first Korean War memorials was erected in 1988. Speakers will address the crowd, a memorial wreath will be laid and lunch will later be available for veterans at Smith Village.

Event: Korean War 60th Anniversary Ceremony

Where: Kennedy Park, northeast corner of 113th Street and Western Avenue, Chicago

When: 10:30 a.m.-11:30 a.m. Friday, July 26. Lunch will follow until 1 p.m. at Smith Village, 2320 W. 113th Place

Speakers:

• Chicago Alderman Jim Balcer, 11th Ward,  U.S. Marine, Viet Nam
• Jim Fitch, Smith Crossing resident and Korean War veteran, U.S. Army in South Korea. Fitch served in a command position leading up to the 11 p.m. cease-fire
• Jin-hyun Lee, consul general of South Korea, based in Chicago